> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.humandesignapi.nl/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start

> Make your first API call in under 5 minutes.

## 1. Get Your API Key

Sign up at [humandesignapi.nl](https://humandesignapi.nl) and choose a plan. Your API key will be available in the [dashboard](https://humandesignapi.nl/dashboard).

## 2. Get a Google Geocoding Key

The location-based endpoints use Google Geocoding to convert place names into coordinates. You need a [Google Geocoding API key](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/geocoding/get-api-key).

<Tip>
  Don't want a geocoding key? Use the [coordinates endpoint](/guides/coordinates-endpoint) instead — pass `lat` and `lng` directly.
</Tip>

## 3. Make Your First Request

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.humandesignapi.nl/v2/charts/simple \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -H "HD-Geocode-Key: YOUR_GEOCODE_KEY" \
    -d '{
      "birthdate": "1990-01-15",
      "birthtime": "14:30",
      "location": "Amsterdam, The Netherlands"
    }'
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch("https://api.humandesignapi.nl/v2/charts/simple", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
      "HD-Geocode-Key": "YOUR_GEOCODE_KEY",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      birthdate: "1990-01-15",
      birthtime: "14:30",
      location: "Amsterdam, The Netherlands",
    }),
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  response = requests.post(
      "https://api.humandesignapi.nl/v2/charts/simple",
      headers={
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
          "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
          "HD-Geocode-Key": "YOUR_GEOCODE_KEY",
      },
      json={
          "birthdate": "1990-01-15",
          "birthtime": "14:30",
          "location": "Amsterdam, The Netherlands",
      },
  )

  data = response.json()
  print(data)
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## 4. Understand the Response

All v2 responses use a [standard envelope](/response-format):

```json theme={null}
{
  "timestamp": "2026-03-24T12:00:00.000Z",
  "success": true,
  "message": "Chart generated",
  "errorCode": "",
  "type": "ChartSimpleResult",
  "data": {
    "type": "Generator",
    "profile": "6/2",
    "gates": ["20", "34", "10", "57"],
    "channelsShort": ["20-34", "10-57"],
    "centers": ["G", "Sacral", "Spleen", "Throat"]
  }
}
```

| Field       | Description                                                                                                         |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `timestamp` | ISO 8601 timestamp of the response                                                                                  |
| `success`   | `true` if the request succeeded                                                                                     |
| `message`   | Human-readable status message                                                                                       |
| `errorCode` | Machine-readable [error code](/api-reference/error-codes) (empty on success)                                        |
| `type`      | Data type name ([`ChartSimpleResult`](/response-format#data-types) or [`ChartResult`](/response-format#data-types)) |
| `data`      | The chart data                                                                                                      |

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/authentication">
    Deep dive into API key and geocoding key setup
  </Card>

  <Card title="Full Chart Endpoint" icon="circle-nodes" href="/api-reference/v2/overview">
    Get the complete chart with all properties
  </Card>

  <Card title="Response Format" icon="brackets-curly" href="/response-format">
    Understand the standard response envelope
  </Card>

  <Card title="Error Handling" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/guides/error-handling">
    Handle errors gracefully
  </Card>
</CardGroup>